Breech mechanism.



N0 724,597. PATENTED APR, 7, 1903.

- J. P. MEIGS.

BREEGH MECHANISM.

I APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1901. H0 MODEL.

2 sums-sum 1.

No. 724,597. PATENTED APR, 7,1903.-

' J. F. MEIGS.

BREEGH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR, 22, 1901. I H0 MODEL. 2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

witnesses UNiTnn STATES ATENT Fr es.

CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

BREECH MECHANISM.

3PEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 724,597, dated April 7, 1903.

Application filed March 22, 1901. Serial No. 52.3.89. (No model.)'

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN FoRsYTn M EIGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bethlehem,in the county of'Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breech Mechanism, of which the following is a specification. 1

My invention relates to the breech mech- 1o anism of guns; and it consists of simple and effective means for imparting to the breechblock or other rotative member its necessary movements and of securing the application of the greatest power at the period of operar 5 tions when the resistance is greatest, as fully set forth hereinafter and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the breech mechanism of a gun embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the operating-lever. Fig. 4 is a plan view ofthe link. Fig. 5 is a side view of the link; Fig. 6, a section on the line 6 6, Fig. 3.

The gun a may be of any suitable construction, with an open breech, abreech-block, and a carrier or frame I) pivoted to the breech, and an operating-lever c, which, as shown, is pivoted to thebreech, having a fulcrum coinciding with the pivot of the carrier.

At the rear face of the breech-block e is a socket for a knob 71, spherical in shape and constituting a universal joint connecting the inner end of alinkj to the breech-block, the

outer end of the link having a spherical knob or pintle 'm, fitting a socket in the lever a near its fulcrum, forming a universal joint. As thus constructed the swinging of the operating-lever secures the desired rotation of 40 the breech-block, and owing to the arrangement of joints the leverage in starting the rotation of the breech-block and in imparting the final closing movement is much greater than at other parts of the operations, so as'to secure the necessary increase of power at those parts of the operations 'where there is the greatest resistance to overcome. I As shown and preferred. each sphere is out away on lines .1 a: to form opposite flattened side faces, and the mouth of each socket has opposite parallel sides of such width as to permit the sphere to be passed into the socket when turned to bring its side faces parallel to the sidestof the mouth. After the sphere withdrawn by turning it slightlyin either direction. The mouths of the sockets are in such a position that they will not coincide with the faces of the spheres in any operative position of the parts, which are connected when the lever-is disconnected from the gun with its fulcrum out of line with the axis on which it turns. The sphere and lover are held in position so that undue tipping is prevented byascrew-pin mextending from the lever into a recess in the bottom of the sphere and limiting its oscillation. A springactuated pin 1), havinga rounded upper end, is carried by the lever c and as the lever is pushed in strikes an incline 1- on the linkj and is first depressed and then enters a socket q of the link, thus locking the parts in place until sufficient force is applied to swing the lever outward to cause the end of the pin to leave its socket. The pin might be carried by the link and the socket be in the lever.

Without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement shown, I claim- 1. The combination of the breech-block, swinging carrier, hand-lever, and link between the hand-lever and breech-block, with breech-block and lever, said spheres with fiattened sides and said sockets with corresponding mouths, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the breech-block, swinging carrier, hand-lever, and link between the hand-leverand breech-block, with spheres on the link fitting sockets in the breech-block and lever, said spheres with flattened sides and said sockets with corresponding mouths arranged to coincide with the vflattened sides of the spheres only when the parts are in non-operative position, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the block-carrier is inserted it is secured so that it cannot be T O BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, A

spheres on the link fitting sockets in the and rotatable breech-block thereon,of a handlever, and a link between the lever anrlthe block, pivoted by ball-joints to the upper face of the lever and to the rear face of the block, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the gun, the ratatable breech-block, and the carrier therefor, of a hand-lever, and a link-connecting the block and the hand-lever and having spheres at its eirs adapted to corresponding sockets in the block and lever, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the carrier, breechblock, lever and link with spheres fitting sockets in the block and lever, and a projection '1; extending into a recess in the adjacent sphere to limit the oscillation of the sphere, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the gun, the recatable breech-block, and the carrier therefor, of a hand-lever pivoted to the breech of the gun, a link connecting the block and the lever, and a spring-pin connection between the link and the lever for locking the same together, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

1 JOHN FORSY'III MEIGS. \Vitnesses:

FRED QUIER, ROYAL K en. 

